Fluid-pressure system.



H. H. HORNSBY.

FLUID PRESSURE SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED APII.2 0.I9I6.

1,220,336. Patented Mar.27,1917.

IIIII Ill PATNT OFFCF.

HARRY H. HORNSBY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEM. Y

` Speccation of Letters `Patent.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

Application filed April 20, 1916. Serial No. 92,382.

To all 'whgm t may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY H. HoRNsBY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fluid- Pressurel Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in fluid pressure systems especially adapted for use in the brakes of street railway cars, steam cars and other compressed air systems, the present invention being an improvement on that set forth in prior patent issued jointly to Edward W. Anger and myself on February 8, 1916, No. 1,171,014, for safety means 'for preventing and removing ice and other obstructions in fluid-pressure systems.

IThe `construction set forth in said prior patent is evidently satisfactory under certain conditions of use and is highly useful under all conditions, but I have found that under certain conditions of use, said prior construction is somewhat wasteful of the agent employed for preventing accumulations of ice, frost, oil, grease or gum, and the removal thereof. It appears that when pressure in the system is largely reduced for a material length oftime such as when the system is bled, or when the variations in pressure are sudden and continued, as when the motorman fans or rapidly operates his control valve, there is likely to be an over supply of the agent injected into the system. One object of the present invention is to so operate said system as to prevent the waste of the agent under these or analogous circumstances.

1 have also discovered that it is desirable to provide a certain body of air in the upper portion of the reservoir or receptacle containing the agent, as this materially assists in starting the operation of the device, and a further object of the invention is to provide means for insuring the presence of such a body of air and preventing overfilling of the reservoir.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby it may bedetermined whether or not there is a reasonable supply of the agent present therein at any time.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for preventing clogging of the system by solid or other clogging matter.

With these objects in view, my invention consists in the method of procedure Aand the combination and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.A

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a sideview of a device embodying my invention,

Fig. 2, a vertical section of the same,

Fig. 3, an enlarged detail section taken through a modified form of injector plug which may be employed in the system,

Fig. 4, a bottom plan view corresponding with Fig. 3,

Fig. 5, a detail view of another modified form of injector plug,

Fig. 6, a plan view of a valve disk Vemployed in the construction and illustrated in Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7, a detail view of a modified form of combined strainer and valve construction which may also be employed in the system.

The form of construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a suitable reservoir or receptacle 8 having an opening or passage 9 extending through thetopthereof, the devicebeing insertedin the air system by means of pipes 10 at each end of the passage 9, so that air employed in the system shall flow through said passage or opening 9 substantially as set forth in the prior patent referred to above. The top of the reservoir 8 which constitutes in effect a partition between said reservoir and the passage 9 is provided with a central opening into which is threaded a plug 12 having an opening or passage 13 extending therethrough, the lower portion of the opening 13 being enlarged and made square in form to accommodate a socket wrench. The plug 12 is also provided with an injector passage 15 extending vertically through one side thereof and an injector pipe or tube 16 is secured in the lower portion of said passage and depends into reservoir 8 to a position adjacent the' bottom thereof. Another injector pipe or tube 17 extends upwardly from the top of the passage l5 into the passage 9, and a ball valve 18 is located in the passage 15 between pipes 16 and 17, as indicated. A 'strainer 19 in the form of a bell-shaped enlargement is secured to the lower end of pipe 16 and the open mouth thereof is covered by fine wire mesh 19, as indicated. A cleaning plug 2O is threaded in the bottom of reservoir 8 and a filling spout 21 is secured in the side thereof adjacent the top, said spout being provided with a threaded plug 22 for opening and closing the same. The spout is so arranged that when the reservoir 8 is filled therethrough, said spout Will overflow before the reservoir is entirely filled, thus insuring the constant presence of a certain body of air in the upper portion of the reservoir and preventing over-filling thereof. A test drain cock 23 is provided in one side ofthe reservoir S a short distance above the bottom thereof so as to permit testing of the reservoir for the presence of the agent, as Will be readily understood.

In operation when air is drawn through the passage 9 substantially as set forth in said prior patent, and in the usual operation of the air system, the reservoir 8 is filled with a suitable agent for preventing accumulations of ice, frost, oil, grease and gum, or removing the same, such as denatured alcohol as is employed in the construction set forth in said prior patent. In the normal operation of the system, When air is drawn through the passage 9, a jet of the alcohol will be projected into said passage and mixed With said air to accomplish the results desired. The upward rush of the liquid through the passage 15 will carry the ball 1S with it and will close the lower end of the pipe 17 after a predetermined amount of liquid has passed therethrough, so that after said predetermined quantity of liquid has passed, no further liquid can pass no matter hon7 long an inequality of pressure exists between the air reservoir 8 and that in passage 9. In this manner a substantially constant quantity of the agent Will be injected into the air system at each prolonged reduction of pressure in said system and irrespective of the extent of such reduction. Then rapid fluctuations in the pressure in the air system are produced as in fanning by the motorman of a street car, the valve 18 will remain closed after the first upward rush of the agent, thus preventing oversupply of the agent.

In the form of construction illustrated in Figs. 3 and el, I arrange a spring plate 24 under the loiver end of the passage 13, said plate being secured to the plug 12 at the point 25 and provided With a minute opening 25 registering With passage 13. By this arrangement, under normal conditions of use, the pressure in the system, and consequently in passa-ge 9, may readily force the plate 2a outwardly to fully open the passage 13 for entry of air into reservoir 8, but When the pressure in the passage`9 becomes less than the pressure in the reservoir 8, through Withdrawal of air from the system, the second upward rush of air will tend to close the plate 24, and permit escape of air only through the minute opening 26 thus tending to maintain the pressure in the reservoir for a considerable time, as will be readily understood, and thus steady the operation of the device.

In the form of construction illustrated in Figs. 5 and G, a disk valve 27, provided with notches 2S in its edges, is provided in place of the ball valve 18, otherwise thel construction is identical with that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the form of construction illustrated in Fig. 7, a slightly different form of bell 29 is secured to the lower end of pipe 16 and a valve 30 of the same genera-l formas said bell is arranged therein in position to close the lower end of the pipe 16 at the first upward rush of liquid therethrough, such construction constituting a substitute for the valves 18 and 27, as will be readily understood. The operation of this construction is substantially identical with that already described.

ll/Ihile I have illustrated and described the preferred forms of construction and method of procedure for carrying my inventicn into eifect, these are capable of variation and modification Without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not Wish tov be limited to the precise details of construction or method of procedure set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Iatent is:

1. rlhe method of preventing clogging of an air system which consists in introducing thereinto substantially constant quantities of a clog-preventing agent, substantially as described.

2. The method of preventing clogging of a compressed air system which consists in introducing thereinto substantially constant quantities of a. clog-preventing agent under varying pressures in said system,

ubstantially as described.

3. The method of preventing formation of ice or frost in an air system which ccnsists in introducing thereinto substantially constant quantities of a freezing-preventing agent, substantially as described.

rlhe method of lpreventing formation of ice or frost in a compressed air system which consists in introducing thereinto substantially constant quantities of a freezing-preventing agent under varying pressures in said system, substantially as described.

5. The combination with an air system, of means for introducing thereinto substantially constant quantities of a clog-preventing agent, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a compressed air system, of means for introducing thereinto substantially constant quantities of a clog-preventing agent under varying pressures in said system, substantially as described.

7. The combination with an air system, of means for introducing thereinto substantially constant quantities of a freezingpreventing agent, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a compressed air system, ot means -for introducing thereinto substantially constant quantities of a freezing-preventing agent under varying pressures in said system, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a compressed air system, of means operable through variations in pressure for introducing thereinto substantially constant quantities of a clogpreventing agent under varying pressures in said system, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a compressed air system of means operable through variations in pressure for introducing thereinto substantially constant quantities of a freezing-preventing agent under varying pressures in said system, substantially as described.

11. The combination with an air system, of a reservoir in open but restricted communication therewith, there being also an injector passage leading into said system; and means operable by flow of fluid from said reservoir into said system through said passage for checking said flow, substantially as described.

12. The combination with an air system, of a reservoir inopen but restricted communication therewith, there being also an injector passage leading into said system; and a valve in said passage operable by flow of fluid from said reservoir into said system through said passage for checking said flow, substantially as described.

13. The combination with an air system, of a reservoir in open but restricted communication therewith, there being also an injector passage leading into said system; means operable by flow of fluid from said reservoir into said system through said passage for checking said Flow; and strainer means preventing entry of solid particles to said passage, substantially as described.

14. The combination with an air system, of a reservoir in open but restricted communication therewith, there being also an injector passage leading into said system; a valve in said passage operable by flow of Huid from said reservoir into said system through said passage for checking said flow; and strainer means preventing entry of solid particles to said passage, substantially as described.

15. The combination with an air system, of a reservoir in open but restricted communication therewith, there being also an injector passage leading into said system; means reducing said communication when air is passing from the reservoir into the system but enlarging the communication when air is passing :trom the system into the reservoir; and means operable by flow of fluid from said reservoir into said system through said passage for checking said flow, substantially as described.

16. rlhe combination with an air system, of a reservoir in open but restricted communication therewith, there being also an injector passage leading into said system; means reducing said communication when air is passing from the reservoir into the system but enlarging the communication when air is passing from the system into the reservoir; and a valve in said passage operable by low of Huid from said reservoir into said system through said passage for checking said flow, substantially as described.

17. The combination with an air system, of a reservoir in open vbut restricted communication therewith, there being also an injector passage leading into said system; means reducing said communication when air is passing from the reservoir into the system but enlarging the communication. when air is passing from the system into the reservoir; means operable by flow of iiuid from said reservoir into said system through said passage for checking said How ;V and strainer means preventing entry of solid particles to said passage, substantially as described.

18. The combination with an air system, of a reservoir in open but restricted communication therewith, there being also an injector passage leading into said system; means reducing said communication when air is passing from the reservoir into the system but enlarging the communication when air is passing from the system into the reservoir; a valve in said passage operable by flow of iiuid from said reservoir into said system through said passage for checking said iiow; and strainer means preventing entry of solid particles to said passage, substantially as described.

19. The combination with an air system, of a reservoir provided with an opening eX- tending through the top thereof, said system being connected in opposite ends of said opening, there being a partition between said opening and the interior of said reservoir; a plug threaded in said partition but provided with a restricted opening extending therethrough and connecting said reservoir with said system; a spring plate secured to said plug over the lower end of the opening therethrough, said plate being provided with a minute opening registering with the opening through the plug; an injector passage extending through said plug; an injector pipe secured in said passage and depending in said reservoir; a strainer over the lower end of said pipe; a second injector pipe eX- tending from the upper end of said injector passage into the system opening; and a valve located in said injector passage between said pipes, substantially as described.

20. The combination with an air system, of a reservoir in open but restricted communication therewith, there being alsolan injector passage leading into said system; means operable bv flow of fluid from said reservoir into said system through said passage for checking said flow; and filling means for said reservoir having an Overflow below the level of the top of said reservoir, substantially as described.

2l. The combination with an air system, of a reservoir in open but restricted communication therewith, there being also an injector passage leading into said system; means operable by flow of fluid from'said reservoir into said system through said passage for checking said flow; and a test drain cock communicating with said reservoir above the bottom thereof, substantially as described.

22. The combination with an air system, of a reservoir in open but restricted communication therewith, there being also an injectorvpassage leading into said system;

means operable bv flow of fluid from said .Y

reservoir into said system through said ypassage for checking said flow; filling means Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

